Manhattan Project National Historical Park

 

 

 

On Tuesday, November 10, 2015, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park was established in Washington, DC, at the Memorandum of Agreement Signing Ceremony held in the Department of Interior building on Constitution Avenue! I was proud to be there and to wear a bow tie in honor and memory of Bill Wilcox, Oak Ridge Historian, who worked so hard for years to preserve the history of Oak Ridge. He would have been so proud to see the nation's 409th new National Park established in Oak Ridge, TN, Hanford, WA, and Los Alamos, NM. 

I was also privileged to be selected as one of 20 people to meet for two days in a Scholar's Forum to determine the main themes for the interpretation of the new park.
Here is are links to photographs made while in DC:  

 

Some of my Favorites - Photoshow

 

 

At the request of the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge I created a 40 image Photoshow that was presented there for a three month period. It was then requested to be presented in the Oak Ridge Public Library for two months.

Here is a link to the photographs included in the Photoshow: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=109845787057992130059&target=ALBUM&id=6186013459815943841&authkey=Gv1sRgCIid84e4qIIX&feat=emai

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2014 Historically Speaking

 

Available for purchase: 2014 Historically Speaking 

2014 Historically Speaking is the ninth annual volume of historical articles published in The Oak Ridger newspaper. Like others in this series, the weekly stories vary from purely historical stories such as "CONTACT Care Line of East Tennessee, an Oak Ridge icon of trained listeners" to stories such as "35 years of rowing highlights in Oak Ridge" Both of these tell stories about different aspects of Oak Ridge life. There is a story about Tim Myrick, an extraordinary man who lived the last year of his life dedicated to helping others while battling "The Beast" (Cancer). Stories of Oak Ridge history here include some of my favorites. I was pleased to capture these details of Oak Ridge history and am glad to bring them to you in this annual book form.

2013 Historically Speaking

Published at: Lulu.com/SmithDRay

 

 Available for purchase at: 2013 Historically Speaking 

2013 Historically Speaking is the eighth annual volume of historical articles published in The Oak Ridger newspaper. Like others in this series, the weekly stories vary from purely historical event stories such as "The Graphite Reactor, Isotopes and a new element" to human interest stories such as ""Coach Gaddis and the 'Penny Lady.'" Both of these tell stories about different aspects of Oak Ridge life. There are stories of Lester Fox and his buses, Lee Russell's identification of the purpose of the "Y chromosome" to the history of Oak Ridge as seen by Bobby Copeland, one of the many people in Oak Ridge who are international experts. Bobby is an expert on "B Westerns!" Stories of Oak Ridge include the latest book to be published on Oak Ridge, "The Girls of Atomic City," by Denise Kiernan. There is a series on the history of Wheat from Sarah Littleton's perspective. I was pleased to capture these details of Oak Ridge history and am glad to bring them to you in this annual book form.

 

Ray Smith 

2011 Historically Speaking

Published at: Lulu.com/SmithDRay

 

 

 2011 Historically Speaking is the sixth annual volume of historical articles published in The Oak Ridger newspaper. Like others in this series, the weekly stories vary from purely historical event stories such as "The Forgotten Detachment" to human interest stories such as "He did what he was supposed to." Both of these tell stories about Bill Sergeant. There are stories of Biologist Alexander Hollaender's Sunday hikes, Peggy Heddleson's unique banners and the history of ORTEC, one of the many start up companies in Oak Ridge. Stories of Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning and the Guest House are also included. I was pleased to capture these details of Oak Ridge history and am glad to bring them to you in this annual book form.

 

Ray Smith 

2010 Historically Speaking

 Published at: Lulu.com/SmithDRay  

 

 

  

 

 

2010 Historically Speaking is the fifth annual volume of historical articles published in The Oak Ridger newspaper. Like others in this series, the weekly stories vary from purely historical events to human interest stories. The Oak Ridge Country Club, The Emory Valley Center and the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge are featured stories. Finally the history of the Greenways in Oak Ridge is also featured as is a tribute to Fred Heddleson, artist extraordinaire. I was pleased to capture these details of Oak Ridge history and am glad to bring them to you in this annual book form. 

Ray Smith

2009 Historically Speaking
Topic: books

Just published 2009 Historically Speaking the fourth annual publication of newspaper columns first published in The Oak Ridger.

The book is available in hardback and as an ebook at 

Lulu.com/SmithDRay.

 

 

 

2009 Historically Speaking is the fourth annual volume of historical articles published in The Oak Ridger newspaper. Like others in this series, the weekly stories vary from purely historical events to human interest stories such as the "Two Brothers - A World War II Story" that tells of the struggles these brothers had during the war. One of the series of articles included is the amazing story of the "Oak Ridge Bombers" a semi-professional baseball team from Oak Ridge that existed from the time of the Manhattan Project into the 1960's. This was a proud group of African American men! The history of R & R Properties is included and Rick Chinn wrote the Foreword for the book. The history and some of the unusual events held at the University of Tennessee's Arboretum is included. Finally the history of the Comparative Animal Research Laboratory is also featured. I was pleased to capture these details of Oak Ridge history and am glad to bring them to you in this annual book form.

 

Ray Smith 

 

Yosemite National Park - July 2014
Mood:  a-ok

These two images were printed by my friend, Bill Brumley, framed by the Appalachian Frame Shop in Oak Ridge, TN, and hang in our living room!   

 

 

See more photos of Yosemite National Park at: 

https://picasaweb.google.com/109845787057992130059/20140728YosemiteNationalPark?noredirect=1

Ray

 

DeBord Falls

A short walk into the woods at Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area will bring you to beautiful and peaceful DeBord Falls. It is good to stop there and just enjoy the beauty and sound.  Take a moment and enjoy a visual of the falls and listen to the relaxing sound of the waterfall...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OXN6WtHrcc

 

 

 

New books recently published
I have recently published four books:

Oak Ridge Friendship Bell  (Click title to go to publisher) contains all the articles published on the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell.





Oak Ridge Friendship Bell Photo Book (select Bell 3-20)
(Click here to send me an email and I will order the book for you...My Publisher does not make it easy for you to order my books, sorry!) contains photos of Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell



2008 Historically Speaking (Click title to go to publisher) contains all Historically Speaking articles published in The Oak Ridger during 2008.





Nanyehi: The Nancy Ward Musical (Click title to go to publisher) contains photos of the musical when presented in Hartwell, GA. in April, 2012.